In the Enemy's Country; or, the Raven of Steinbrück. A story of 1813, etc

Front matter

IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY MORE THAN HIS MATCH. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY OR THE RAVEN OF STEINBRIICK A STORY OF 1813 BY ANNA H. DRURY AUTHOR OF 'called to the rescue,' 'Gabriel's appointment,' etc. ILLUSTRATED BY HORACE PETHERICK IIS LONDON GRIFFITH FARRAN OKEDEN & WELSH NEWBERY HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD AND SYDNEY The Rights of 1 'ranslation and of Reproduction are reserved. LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. 0 PAGE MORE THAN HIS MATCH, Frontispiece DISCHARGED FROM THE GRAND ARMY, 13 THE OLD CHURCH PORCH, 39 AT THE GOAT, 75 SPOILS OF WAR, 105 THE RETURN OF THE BURGOMASTER, 247 'I SEE THE OLD MAN,' . . . ' 269 HANS IN COURT

Chapter I Mmt

is difficult for us, at this distance of time, to £rtl P5 uri(:'ers,:and what people felt, hoped, feared, at jj||jg5? the beginning of the year 1813. Only by studying the books that have preserved the letters, the despatches, the narratives of the period, can we at all realize the state of affairs in those countries of Europe that were then included in the overgrown empire of the great Napoleon. Great he was, in genius, in ability, in craft, in power ; and they knew, to their cost, what it was to struggle against his rule. One after another had been thrown down, and humbled, and been obliged to accept such terms as he would offer ; buying peace at home by supplying their master's armies with men and means for carrying on war elsewhere. Any hope of successfully throwing off the yoke of France, had appeared an idle dream only the year before — that wonderful 181 2 — when their mighty conqueror, at the head of four hundred thousand men, marched into Russia, hoping to subdue that too.

But when, with the new year, came the report that the great Emperor had returned to Paris without his army — that its poor remains were shut up in towns and fortresses, half dead already with sickness and exhaustion— it was like a sudden ray through a dense cloud. History would come into men's minds : Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Xerxes— whose hand had stricken them ? Was not the same Power plainly shown again in the destruction of a host mightier than any of theirs ? The terrible Emperor had been defeated ; he might lay it all on the winter if he chose — the fact remained the same ;— and there was not a town or a village in Germany that did not thrill at the news with more hope than they had believed would ever return in their time. Not that, at first, any of them were the better for the news — quite the reverse.

All had lost men; and now fresh demands were made all over the empire for recruits, for money, for horses, for supplies of every kind; as he was raising another great army as fast as possible, to take the place of the last. Taxes were laid on, and conscripts collected, armed, and sent to the seat of war; nor was any resistance attempted, even where the hatred of French rule was the strongest. But, as the long bitter winter broke up, and the spring began to show itself in the melting ice and snow, and peeping forth of buds, news somehow made its way into the towns, and thence among the villages, that brought a spring-like energy into men's hearts. Cautious people tried to keep young ones quiet ; the prudent were content to talk among themselves of what might possibly turn up in a year or two ; but others were too much excited by the possibility of becoming free, to be as guarded as usual in the presence of their masters ; and wherever the French went, they became aware of the change. ' Is this what you call loyalty and devotion, doctor ? ' asked a young Parisian of his travelling companion, as they drove away in a post-chaise from an inn, where, under the outward show of civility, they had been made to feel themselves decidedly unwelcome. ' I used to hear that this region was your paradise ; you moved about from place to place as superior beings, feasted with the best, every soul at your feet, and nothing to pay — nay, unless report was much mistaken, the paying was on the other side.

Now, if ever I saw a sulky landlord, it was your host of the Eagle ; and as to his cook, what would my uncle say to such a dinner?' 'Your uncle, my dear fellow, like many more, knows very little of a soldier's life,' was the answer, as the grey haired army surgeon lighted a fresh cigar. ' If you feast like a king one day, you may dine on a potato the next ; so the wisest thing is to have an appetite for everything.' ' Ay, for roasted cat with the King of Naples,' said the young man, with a grimace ; ' but excuse the remark that we are not passing through the enemy's country at this moment.' ' You think not ? ' ' I conclude not, as nobody interferes with us. To be sure, I have not read the papers to-day, so a change may have taken place since yesterday.' ' A change has taken place, no doubt ; but it began before you left Paris.

Your uncle must have known that when he sent you here.' ' What my uncle knows is quite beyond me,' said the young man gaily. ' He sent me to find his correspondent at Steinbriick, and settle accounts with him, hoping, of course, to find a profit in the transaction ; and, as you were reported to be in the neighbourhood, I was to present myself first to you. You have my credentials, and you have myself — that is the whole of the matter.' ' Not quite, but we will let that pass. Do you know your uncle's correspondent ?' 'Not in the least, except that he is a sharp hand at making a fortune ; and if he can put me in the way of doing the same, my journey will not be wasted. You know him, of course, doctor? You have had dealings with him pretty often, I suppose ? ' ' I have had dealings with old Grippaud,' said the army surgeon dryly, ' and may have more ; but his way of fortune making is not to my taste.

Take my advice, and have no more to do with him than your uncle's business requires.' ' I understood he was in high favour with you all — the confidential agent of ministers and generals— on the high road to a title, and ribbons and stars without end. He won't be the first rogue who has won them, if, as you seem to imply, rogue he be.' ' Probably not, nor the last ; but, as the nephew of an old friend, I should be sorry to see you win decorations in his company, Philippe. If you are going to stay at Stein briick, I think I can give you a better introduction than that.' ' One that will make my fortune before I go back ? For, in truth, that is the main object of my journey. Life in Paris is divine, when you have a good purse ; but when that friend begins to languish, it has a singular effect on the spirits.

If your introduction will only restore mine ' — ' I say nothing about your purse, except that the company of an honest, upright man is safer, even for that, than the example of a grasping old usurer. However useful Grip paud may have been, nobody denies him that epithet ; I rather imagine he is proud to be so considered.' ' And what is your honest man, doctor ? ' ' An Englishman — a man of science — a member of my own profession.' 'An English colleague, and living at Steinbriick ? How is it that he has not fled to his beloved fogs long ago ? ' ' For a reason you may not appreciate, my young friend. His wife lies in Steinbriick churchyard, he settled there before the town became part of the thirty-second depart ment of the empire ; and not being driven out, he has remained. I have sometimes wondered at his patience, but so it is ; and if your Parisian nature can endure the In the Enemy ' s Country. 11 acquaintance, I have no doubt my introduction will secure you a welcome.' ' I shall be delighted, if only for the novelty of hearing him talk.

The dear islanders are as scarce now as good tobacco. What vile stuff they give us here under govern ment licence ! ' ' The Emperor gets his profit, so that is all that is im portant, you see. Take care how you grumble at anything that concerns the imperial revenue. Don't you good people in Paris understand that the whole system of licences and duties goes to fill the treasure vaults of the Tuileries ? ' 'They say the Emperor is spending that money freely enough on the new army ; and that quickened my uncle's desire to communicate with his friend Grippaud, who always understands the state of the market. My dear sir, what is that in the ditch ? ' ' A dead man, probably ; they are common enough wherever a detachment has passed through ; and I did hear ■ — Hold hard, postillion ! ' with a sudden change of tone, ' pull up !

Some one is in want of help ! ' The postillion checked his horses, but with evident reluctance. ' May be a case of fever, doctor ; there's plenty about.' ' The more need of my looking at him ;' and the surgeon sprang out of the carriage, Philippe Epinay watching him with lazy curiosity. ' First experience of the casualties of war, to be noted down in my memoirs. How those professional fellows spring on their prey, like a dog on a rabbit. I hope he won't carry his enthusiasm to the extreme of bringing the gentleman in here. I say, comrade,' to the postillion, who was replenishing a huge pipe, 'do you mean that fevers are really blooming on your high roads, like the cherry blossoms on your trees ? ' The postillion's French was not of the first quality, but necessity, in those days, made people linguists whether they would or not.

He growled out something about the military hospitals knowing best about that. If the young gentleman was going to join his regiment, he would soon find out what fever meant. ' My regiment ? I am not a soldier— not yet,' said the young Parisian, with a mental reservation that saved his self-respect. He had been congratulating himself on his freedom from the military yoke, but was not sure whether his importance was not lessened by its absence. ' It is possible I may join as a volunteer, you know,' he went on, ' but at present I am engaged on important business.' ' It is all the same,' observed the postillion ; ' no business is attended to that the soldiers haven't a finger in. Trust them ! ' ' Soldiers must live, you see, comrade.' ' So they say, sir ; but luckily, you see, they don't.' The Parisian cleared his throat. ' How far are we from Steinbriick ? ' ' Change horses next stage, and then you are within an hour of it.

The Herr Doctor is beckoning. If monsieur wants to volunteer for service, now is his time, unless he is afraid.' ' Afraid ! ' Philippe's blood was up in a moment, so he jumped out of the vehicle, and shook the postillion in his saddle. ' Let me advise you to think twice before you say that again to a Frenchman. We have taken great pains to teach you your lesson — take care you don't forget it.' What was muttered between the postillion's teeth the Parisian did not stay to hear; he was now by the side of Dr. Morel, who was supporting a young fellow, pale, thin, and gasping with faintness. His bandages and crutch as well as the soiled, worn uniform, showed him to be one of the numerous wounded just out of hospital. DISCHARGED FROM THE GRAND ARMY. ' Lend me your flask, Philippe ; mine is empty.

Thanks,' as the elegant silver bottle was handed over, readily enough, though its contents were too choice to be easily replaced. The young man was startled as well as touched by the spectacle before him ; and was the first to propose putting the poor fellow into the chaise, with the double motive of doing a kindness, and annoying the postillion. ' Come along and help,' he shouted to him scornfully ; ' he has no more fever than you would have if you were tired and weak, and just out of hospital. Come and help to get him into the carriage, or into hospital you'll have to go, if I break some of your bones as a ticket of admission.' - ' Gently, my friend,' whispered the surgeon, on whom the driver's scowl was not thrown away. ' Parisian though you be, it is not prudent to lord it too much out here just now.

But you are so far right that this poor fellow has no fever, he is only exhausted. We must take him with us to the next stage.' ' Where are your quarters, comrade ? ' asked Philippe. He liked to affect this language towards soldiers, as implying that he had only to put on the uniform to be as much a soldier as any of them. In his heart, he envied them their importance in the world, and, if only the discipline had been more to his taste, might have coveted the con scription from which his uncle's purse had hitherto saved him. The wounded man, returning the greeting with a salute, for the gentleman might be an officer in plain clothes, replied that he was on his way to Steinbriick, but he wanted first to get help for some of his comrades, who had broken down a few miles back. A little questioning on the surgeon's part brought out so piteous a tale of weakness and suffering, that the good man at once decided he must go back after these unexpected patients.

Take this poor fellow on with you, Philippe ; you will get fresh horses at the next stage, and he will not weigh half as much as I do.' The Parisian made a grimace ; but the adventure was a variety, and if not a campaigner himself, it was something to patronize one fresh from the scene of action ; so, leaving his friend to his work of mercy, he devoted himself with a good grace to his own, laughed down the scruples of the wounded man, and made him as comfortable as he could — even to the sharing of the cigars, no less precious than the contents of the silver flask. The sullen postillion looked round once or twice, as the delicious aroma was wafted to his nostrils ; and he would almost have forgiven the Parisian's insolence for one of those rare delicacies — but none were offered to him. Philippe Epinay, smoking at his ease, was questioning his. new companion about his campaign ; and if not learning exactly what he looked for, receiving information that was both startling and new.

Of fighting the soldier had seen very little ; the Emperor had passed through the town while he was in hospital, so he had not seen him at all. Yes, he had seen some of the great generals, and now and then a marshal ; but he had not gone further than Poland, and had been ill nearly all his time of service ; was kicked by a horse, and thrown from a cart, and his arm would not heal ; so at last he got his discharge, he believed, as giving more trouble than he was worth. Luckily, his battalion had been marched back into Prussia, so he had a chance of getting home. Lots of them had been as bad as he, but they had died, you see ; the men dropped sometimes on the march, sometimes were too bad to move in the morning, and if you couldn't be carried, there you were left. In Prussia, the people nursed all they could, but there were more and more always comino up, and when once you could stand, you soon knew you must move on.

They would have kept him to serve his time in garrison, if he could have held a musket, but he should never hold one again, he knew that. ' It seems to me, my friend,' said Epinay, ' that if the world is your oyster, you have not yet tasted much more than the shell. What shall you do now ? ' ' If I get to Steinbriick alive, sir, my father will take me in.' ' What is your father ? ' ' He is the host of the Bear,' said the soldier, with a touch of pride, ' the best guest-house in Steinbriick. I am his only son.' 'Then why did he not prevent your going into the army ? ' ' He could not, sir — he tried hard. I ought to have been exempt, but we couldn't get justice. He paid a good sum for a substitute, and then, when the man and the money were gone, he was told that a fresh demand had come, and so many more conscripts must go ; to pay again would have ruined him, and I should have had to march after all.' ' But that was sharp practice.

Whose doing was it ?' ' It is pretty well known in Steinbriick, sir, but it is no good grumbling. If I had only been a bit stronger, I should not have cared so much ; but I was not fit for soldiering, as everybody knew — was laid up with the first wet bivouac, and never could get right afterwards.' ' Well, you have lived to go back, which is more than many of our veterans did,' said Philippe. 'Yes, sir; and I have wondered often enough to find myself still alive, when such strong fellows went down, but I suppose I was not worth taking.' ' A very comfortable conclusion to draw ; some people would like to be sure of the same thing,' said the Parisian. He felt a lazy liking for his companion, who had passed through so much, without any reward, and yet took it all so B quietly. A fiftieth part of his sufferings would have been dearly bought by promotion, titles, and decorations; and here he was, with nothing but shattered bones to show for his services.

After drawing out as many particulars as the soldier's strength allowed, he told him, gravely, that his case was one that ought to be noticed, and he should use his interest to get him properly mentioned. To his surprise, the soldier thanked him, but would rather be let alone. To attract attention was sometimes the worst thing a poor fellow could do. If his enemy saw him come back like this, he might be satisfied, and think no more about him ; if he were talked about, there would only be fresh spite and malice. ' So I can get home to die quietly, I am content, sir. I tried to be a good soldier, but when you are on your back half your time, what good are you to anybody ? ' ' And you prefer not to name your enemy ? Perhaps it is safer. I may be on his side for all you know.' ' So kind and good a gentleman would never wrong a poor maimed fellow, I'm sure.

If you think I'm afraid of thai, sir, I'll tell you at once. We have an enemy who would like to ruin my father, and everybody else in Steinbriick that stands in his way, and he was at the bottom of all my troubles. When my father pleaded my bad health, he made the officers think I was one that shammed from fear; and that put my blood up, you see, and if I had dropped as I marched, I wouldn't have given in after that. An old sergeant told me I was so bad a bargain they had better have taken my father's word ; and so I was, no doubt.' ' And the civil gentleman who priced you so high — what was his name?' asked the Parisian. He did not really care very much, but the side-look his companion gave him at once roused his curiosity. ' Monsieur is going to Steinbriick ? ' said the soldier, after a short hesitation. ■9 ' And hopes to have the pleasure of your company there.

Have I asked an indiscreet question by chance ? ' ' No, sir ; not that, but — Oh, there is the White Horse at last ! It looks much the same, and yet how long it seems since I was there ! ' The postillion's horses seemed to think something of the same kind, for they quickened their pace even before the whip of encouragement cracked in the air above their heads, and in a short time the travellers stopped at the doorway of the White Horse Inn (Gasthaus), a welcome incident to the guests on the benches outside. While fresh horses were being deliberately put to, some of these gathered round to inspect the vehicle and its inmates, and the wounded man received more than one greeting of recognition. He took special care to explain it was the kindness of the gentleman that had procured him this relief to his fatigue ; and one of the bystanders remarked that, being a stranger himself, he wished he could meet with the 'same good luck.

He had tramped for miles already, trusting to the directions given him, and had just discovered that half of the distance might have been spared ; he had gone miles out of his way. His language, Philippe noticed, was a curious mixture of French and German ; his dress was that of a seafaring man, though different from those of the neighbourhood. ' A Dane — belongs to some fishing business — had to cut and run from the English cruisers,' explained the host, as he brought the Parisian the wine he had called for, and which he shared with his companion. ' Asked his way to Steinbriick, and nearly danced with rage to find what a round he had taken.' 'Another visitor for Steinbriick? It seems to be all the fashion. Ask him to step this way.' The Dane soon presented himself, with a gesture of nautical civility ; his pleased smile, when offered the back seat of the carriage, displaying a set of well-made white teeth, though he feared he should incommode the gentle man.

He had not dreamed of being taken in earnest. ' It shall be my pride and privilege,' was Philippe's answer, ' to convey into Steinbriick, on this my first visit, not only one of her heroic sons, who returns in doubtful condition, though steeped in glory, but also one of those gallant allies, who know that the true road (if the Moniteur is to be believed) to wealth and honour is along the road of loyalty to the Emperor, to whose health we will open another bottle, and request our host will join us. Vive P Empereur ! ' ' Vive V Empereur !' was echoed by those nearest at hand, obeying the gesture by which Philippe proposed to fill their glasses. One man, however, who was smoking a little apart, pointed to his tall beer-glass, and declined both wine and toast. ' You had better take care, Wolfgang,' observed the host significantly ; ' the little Raven flew past this morning.' ' Who saw him ?

Did you ? ' asked more than one eager voice. ' Saw him ? Yes, plain enough, the young rascal ; no mistaking his run, or his hair, or his eyes. He had his master's pouch over his shoulder, and shook it at me when I hailed him. Mischief is brewing when thai crosses the country, and there is one knows it as well as I,' nodding to the soldier, who had almost forgotten his welcome draught in the news. ' Ah, well ! ' he sighed, as he returned the glass, ' there is not much he can do to me now.' He laughed a little nervously, and held up his bandaged arm. 'Not even Grippaud can make me fit for service again.' The Parisian turned sharply and looked at him, but made no remark, except that if they were to reach Stein briick at all they had better proceed, and the Dane, squeezing his powerful frame into the small back seat of the open vehicle, they started at a brisk pace, regardless of the growls of their late driver over the very modest gratuity left in his hand.

Chapter II

' And who is this formidable little Raven?' asked the Parisian, as they drove on, all three enjoy ing some of the choice tobacco from the silver case. Heinrich replied that nobody knew where the boy came from ; his master said he had picked him up in a ditch, and he had been his servant now for two years. He hardly ever spoke to anybody, and nobody cared to speak to him, though they were all afraid of him. He did his master's errands, cooked his meals, and carried his messages for miles all round the town, flying on those bare feet of his as if he really had a raven's wings ; and wherever that pouch was shown, at military posts or gates of towns, they always let him go through. His master was well known, and it was supposed that a general order was given to speed on his messenger. But what did his messages do to other people ?

Why, of course, that depended on what the message was about ; but if you had a spy in the town, who found out every farthing that could be squeezed out of hard-working people, and every screw that would pinch them most surely, it was easy to suppose that spy wouldn't be sending messages for nothing. Depend upon it, that little demon would be coming back with mischief in his pouch, and they should soon find out where the screw was turning. The hood of the chaise had been partially put back, and the Dane, who was opposite, saw at this moment, what was unperceived by the others, a brown, not over clean face, with matted, dark hair, and glittering eyes, peering down over the knuckles of a small, strong hand that clutched the woodwork of the vehicle. How the rest of the figure kept its balance did not appear, but, as the eyes met his own, there was in them a twinkle of mischief and an appeal not to spoil sport that the stranger could not resist.

He kept his countenance demurely, and waited to see the end of the adventure. The curiosity of M. Epinay seemed to have been excited on the subject of the boy and his master ; and when once Henrich's misgivings had been got over, he was ready enough to tell what he had known before leaving home, with a little more that had reached him through letters, and the reports of fellow-townsmen. All agreed in the fact that old Grippaud, the master, had an almost superhuman faculty of discovering all about his neighbours' affairs — knew who had savings and resources in cash, and whose capital was tied up in house or land, or business — that he was the spy of the imperial Government, through whom taxes and requisitions, conscription, and billeting of troops, were made to fall heavily or lightly on individuals, according to his representations ; and that, in order to meet these hateful calls, many of the townspeople had been obliged to borrow of him at ruinous interest, so that he was by far the most powerful, as well as the most miserly man in the place.

And whenever that black-haired, barefooted youngster was seen scouring the country, somebody was sure to be scorched pretty soon — of course, to the profit of his master. Had it occurred to nobody to thrash the interesting child ? To plenty ; but they were all afraid of him. The Dane, with little Raven's eyes gleaming opposite, had some difficulty in maintaining his look of unconcern. A passing remark from a carter they met, that there was queer news from Hamburg, turned the conversation for the moment upon his country ; he was plied with questions as to the reported movements of the Danish forces in that direction, to which he gave general replies; he did not know much beyond his own line of business, but those plaguy British cruisers were always in the way, and he did hear there had been a landing of troops somewhere up the river.

Why didn't the great Emperor just settle with those aggravating islands before he went to Russia, and wasted his time and his men? Whereupon Philippe proceeded to inform his good ally, that to doubt or question the Emperor's wisdom, proved either that you were a traitor (which he was far from insinuating), or that your weak brain was inferior to his mighty one, which might just be possible. Depend upon it, the next few months would stop all grumblers' com plaints ; the giant was rising from the earth all the stronger for a momentary fall. Hamburg go over to the enemy, indeed ! — when she had been one of the first to approach the imperial throne with an address of devoted loyalty ! They would be accusing Steinbriick next ; only, happily, he should be there to witness that all was as it ought to be. ' There lies Steinbriick itself,' said Heinrich suddenly, his pale face showing a faint tint of delight, as he caught a glimpse of the familiar roofs and gables among the trees, and knew they were about to descend a rather long hill to ' s Country. 25 reach the gate of the town.